Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Western Kentucky
Sun Belt Leaders Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky Face-Off Friday
11/10/2005 3:43:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The match-up pits a Middle Tennessee team that has an overall record of 25-2 and 9-1 in the Sun Belt. Western Kentucky is 26-2 and 10-0 in the Sun Belt. The Lady Toppers gave the Blue Raiders their only blemish in the Sun Belt, defeating Middle Tennessee 3-0 September 23 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
A win by Middle Tennessee will give the Blue Raiders a share of the Sun Belt East going into its final match on Sunday against South Alabama. If Western Kentucky comes out on top, they will clinch sole possession of the East. No matter how it plays out this weekend, Middle Tennessee is assured at least a No. 2 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament, which it will host on November 17-19 in Alumni Memorial Gym.
"I'm not putting a lot of pressure on the players for this match with Western Kentucky," said Head Coach Matt Peck. "All I ask of them is that we play better then we did at Western Kentucky."
The Blue Raiders are led by junior Andressa Lyra who is averaging 4.69 kills and 3.21 digs per game. The two-time Sun Belt Player of the Week has also notched a team-leading 37 aces and became the seventh player in school history to record 1,000 kills.
Defensively, the Blue Raiders rely on thrice decorated Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week Alicia Lemau'u. The sophomore libero has recorded 30 or more digs twice and 20 or more digs 12 times. She also reached the 1,000 dig plateau last weekend against Arkansas State, making her the fastest player in school history to do so.
Western Kentucky is paced by freshman middle hitter Megan Albright who is averaging 3.75 kills per game as well as Jenna Gideon who is averaging 2.99 kills per game. Senior setter Caron Blotch, who has twice been decorated as Sun Belt Player of the week, handles the ball for the Lady Toppers averaging 13.22 assists per game.
Middle Tennessee is riding an 11-match winning streak and has won 12 consecutive at home. Western Kentucky has won the last nine meetings between the two squads, with the last Blue Raider victory coming in 2000 when the squad won 3-1.
